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Toronto Forum Invites Citizens Into the Dialogue Around the Future of Medical Marijuana in Canada

TORONTO, July 16, 2015 /CNW/ - Given the lightning pace at which the Canadian medical marijuana industry is evolving, the Lift Cannabis Forum in Toronto on July 20 provides an opportunity for experts and the general public to come together and discuss the future of cannabis access and regulation in Canada.

Canada has seen the rules for access to and production of medical cannabis change radically over the past few years, from the old system of non-commercial home production, to the now two-dozen large commercial producers under Health Canada's new Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR). There has also been two key court cases challenging aspects of the MMPR- one just recently been ruled upon by the Supreme Court of Canada, allowing cannabis users to consume their medicine in any form. Another case before federal court that challenges the lack of allowances for home-growing under the MMPR is expected to be decided this summer.

On top of all this, Canada has also witnessed an explosion of illegal dispensaries (especially in Vancouver), and a corresponding desire by an increasing number of cities nationwide to somehow regulate and temper this unfettered growth.

While Vancouver is home to more dispensaries than the rest of Canada combined, Ontario is home to over 50% of medical marijuana-prescribing doctors and registered MMPR patients. The Lift Cannabis Forum's Toronto event will be focussing on the kinds of issues and ideas currently being discussed within the legal marijuana community in Canada, from insurance coverage and access to oils and edibles to quality assurance practices, pharmaceutical grade vs natural health product regulations, concerns about doctors receiving alleged 'kickbacks', the reluctance of the majority of the medical community to authorize access, and much more.

The Lift Cannabis Forum is an opportunity for anyone interested in the subject to take part in an open conversation about the current state of legal medical cannabis and where things are heading in the future. By bringing together experts and voices from within the broader medical cannabis world and engaging in an open, public discussion, Lift hopes to not only extend the conversation to the broader public, but to bring the questions and concerns from the general public to these industry leaders and experts.